) 570 
,8 

C8 P4 
L917 
Jopy 1 



OUTLINE 



OF 



DEPARTMENTAL ACTIVITIES 



OF THE 



COMMITTEE OF PUBLIC SAFETY 



FOR THE 



COMMONWEALTH OF 
PENNSYLVANIA 



> > 






OUTLINE 



OF 



DEPARTMENTAL ACTIVITIES 



OF THE 



COMMITTEE OF PUBLIC SAFETY 



FOR THE 



COMMONWEALTH OF 
PENNSYLVANIA 



/f/7 



D. Of D. 
SEP 5 1917 



^N 



.«> 



COMMITTEE OF PUBLIC SAFETY 

FOR THE 

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA 

Headquarters 

7th Floor, Finance Building 

Philadelphia, Pa. August 31, 1917. 

ROSTER 

George Wharton Pepper, Chairman 
B. F. Jones, Jr., Vice -Chair man 
Lewis E. Beitler, Secretary 
Effingham B. Morris, Treasurer 
Lewis S. Sadler, Executive Manager 

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 

E. M. C. Africa A. W. Mellon 

W. W. Atterbury Allen P. Perley 

A. C. Dinkey James Scarlett 

Spencer C. Gilbert A. W. Sewall 

H. J. Hayden E. T. Stotesbury 

Mrs. J. Willis Martin Colonel L. A. Watres 

Homer D. Williams 

DEPARTMENTAL HEADS 

General Committee 
Finance 

Arthur E. Newbold, Director 

Publicity 

J. Benjamin Dimmick, Director 

Legislation 

Honorable Frank Gunnison. Director 

Allied Bodies 

Dr. S. B. McCormick, Director 

Sanitation^ Medicine and Red Cross 
T. DeWitt Cuyler, Director 
Dr. Samuel G. Dixon, Vice-Director 
Dr. Hobart a. Hare, Vice-Director 
Charlton Yarnall, Vice-Director 



Civic Relief 

Colonel Louis J. Kolb, Director 
Albert Cross, Vice-Director 

Food Supply 

Howard Heinz, Director 
Ernest L. Tustin, Vice-Director 
]. S. Crutchfield, Vice-Director 

Materials 

B. Dawson Coleman, Director 

Plants 

George S. Davison, Director 

Motors and Motor Trucks 

David S. Ludlum, Director 
]. Kearsley Mitchell, Vice-Director 
J. Howard Reber, Vice-Director 
Powell Evans, Vice-Director 

Civilian Service and Labor 

Edgar C. Felton, Director 
J. C. Frazee, Vice-Director 

Military Service 

General Avery D. Andrews, Director 

C. Willing Hare, Vice-Director 
A. J. Drexel Biddle, Vice-Director 

Captain J. Franklin McFadden, Vice-Director 

Naval Service 

E. Walter Clark, Director 
Thomas Newhall, Vice-Director 

Guards, Police and Inspection 

Major John C. Groome, Director 
Honorable John K. Tener, Vice-Director 
William S. Ellis, Vice-Director 
David A. Reed, Vice-Director 

Railroads, Electric Railroads, High and Waterways 
Samuel Rea, Director 
Agnew T. Dice, Vice-Director 
Thomas E. Mitten, Vice-Director 
Moorhead C. Kennedy, Vice-Director 



COMMITTEE OF PUBLIC SAFETY 

FOR THE 

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA 

Five months ago, in recognition of the obvious necessity 
for nation-wide co-ordination of State energies and resources 
to permit of the most vigorous prosecution of war by the 
Federal Government, the Committee of Pubhc Safety for the 
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, including more than 300 
representative civilians, was appointed by the Governor. 

The Committee began its appointed labors under a plan 
which concentrates activities into five divisions comprising 
seventeen separate working departments, all under compact, 
central executive control, the entire work of rendering effec- 
tive State aid to the nation's war effort being financed by a 
legislative apropriation of $2,000,000. Coincident with the 
financing of the work, supervision of all expenditures was 
vested in a commission composed of the five highest elective 
officers of the Commonwealth, the Governor being its chair- 
man. 

In the brief period which has elapsed since its creation, 
the committee has completed its organization throughout the 
sixty-seven counties of the State. County units duplicate, 
so far as is possible in their structure, all of the divisions 
and departments of the State body, so that complete co-ordi- 
nation of effort is possible, and has been attained in every 
line of activity so far undertaken. 

Comprising as it does the five major divisions of ad- 
ministration, which includes departments of Finance, Pub- 
licity, Legislation and Allied Bodies ; Relief, including depart- 
ments of Sanitation, Medicine and Red Cross and Civic Re- 
lief; Equipment and Supply, with departments of Food Sup- 
ply, Materials, Plants and Motors and Motor Trucks ; Service, 
with departments of Civilian Service and Labor, Military 
Service, Naval Service, and Guards, Police and Inspection; 
and division of Transportation, with departments of Railroads, 
Electric Railways and Motors, and Highways and Water- 
ways, the committee has a working range covering practically 
every field of useful endeavor. 

Being the only body possessing State authority to mobilize 
and conserve all resources essential to the promotion of the 
war, the committee has obtained the willingly granted right 



to assimilate operations of established organizations and insti- 
tutions, and, as necessity demanded, these have been incor- 
porated almost wholly or in part into the general work. Ac- 
tivities of official State departments essential to the efficiency 
of the committee's program have also been placed at its com- 
mand so that it stands as the one organization having equip- 
ment and capacity for carrying out its great and vital work. 

Thus the committee has succeeded in effecting a concen- 
tration of effort not paralleled at any other time in Pennsyl- 
vania's history and probably unexcelled by any other State 
mobilization of potential resources. 

Though possessed of this effective organization and hav- 
ing already demonstrated impressive efficiency in the opera- 
tions of a number of its departments, the committee will not, 
of course, be able to display all that it is capable of achieving 
until the more active participation of the Government in the 
great war brings all of its own planned activities into service. 

Up to the present the military and naval situation and 
acute food conditions have been of dominating importance 
throughout the State and nation, with the result that activities 
have been centered in those departments of the committee 
organized to cope specifically with problems arising from such 
sources. 

This does not imply, however, that the only important 
work has been confined to military, naval and food conserva- 
tion programs ; all of the departments have been earnestly 
promoting their various activities. A comprehensive outline 
of the entire work is the aim of the following review: 

DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE 

The duties of the Department of Finance obviously call 
for no extended explanation. In the initial stages of the 
committee's work, when it was without funds, $25,000 was 
provided to enable it to be organized ; this sum was repaid 
out of the $2,000,000 appropriation made by the General As- 
sembly as soon as that appropriation became available. All 
requisitions for expenditures approved by the Executive Com- 
mittee of the Committee of Public Safety must of course be 
finally passed upon by the Commission of Public Safety and 
Defense of the Commonwealth created by the Legislature; 
and all accounts of the Committee of Public Safety for Penn- 
sylvania, as an agent of the commission, must be audited by 
the Auditor-General of Pennsylvania as required by the or- 
ganic law of the Commonwealth. It is the fixed policy of 
the Commission of Public Safety and Defense of the Com- 
monwealth to safeguard the amount appropriated by the Legis- 



lature in every way against the demands that may arise in 
the course of the arduous task which lies ahead of the country 
in this war, which cannot be estimated at present, but which 
undoubtedly will be of unprecedented magnitude. The 
strictest economy has, therefore, been observed by both the 
Commission of Public Safety and Defense of the Common- 
wealth and the Committee of Public Safety in confining ex- 
penditures to general purposes of public safety and defense. 
Up to the present time less than $50,000 of the $2,000,000 
which was so appropriated by the General Assembly has been 
spent for all the work accomplished by the Committee of 
Public Safety for Pennsylvania as outlined in the activities 
of its various departments herein set forth. 

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLICITY 

Assuming its duties practically coincident with the or- 
ganization of the committee, the Department of Publicity has 
closely adhered to its designated work of interpreting to the 
public the committee's aims and plans, and carrying out edu- 
cational propaganda. 

In conducting this work the plan was adopted of making 
the department, so far as possible, a clearing house for all 
news relating to general activities. There are, of course, 
well-known established avenues through which publicity is 
usually disseminated and these have been made use of. But 
other methods of keeping the public informed have been 
sought and used with good effect. 

The activities of the various departments being entrusted 
to the direction of recognized experts, it has been the function 
of the publicity division to keep in close touch with the de- 
tails of all work. In this way it has been able to supply timely 
news announcements to the press and to enlist State-wide 
co-operation with the separate departments. It has also ren- 
dered occasional service in an advisory capacity to other de- 
partments. 

To date almost one hundred separate news stories cover- 
ing every phase of the committee's undertakings have been 
furnished to the newspapers of the State. The department 
has organized, through generous co-operation of the pub- 
lishers, a system whereby the columns of more than 500 news- 
papers are at the committee's service to convey important 
news and facts to the public. 

This system has been of great value in promoting the 
activities of various departments, particularly the recruiting 
campaign of the Military Service Department, and the food 
conservation efforts of the Food Supply Department. News 



stories and appeals prepared and put out by the Publicity 
Department in connection with these activities alone were 
given newspaper space probably totaling 1000 columns. 

The department also has assisted in the issuance of posters 
and other literature and devised a method of securing their 
prominent and widespread display. By way of illustration, 
posters aimed to speed up the planting of non-perishable crops 
were, through the department's efforts, strategically placed in 
2000 country general stores throughout the State as well as 
in roadside hostelries, creameries and other places frequented 
by farmers. 

A volunteer posting service, including thousands of drug 
stores and other high-class business houses all over the State, 
was established and has been used effectively for window 
posting displays. Co-operation of these stores is assured so 
long as the committee requires their assistance. Regular bill- 
posting service has, of course, been added to the volunteer 
window service when necessary. 

The department is in contact with the publicity work of 
other State committees. To its duties of keeping the public 
fully informed through the newspapers it has added the duty 
of keeping the directing heads and State-wide sub-divisions 
of the committee fully cognizant of general activities. 

DEPARTMENT OF LEGISLATION 

Duties defined for the Department of Legislation include, 
inter alia, the framing of appropriate statutes to give effective 
force to policies or measures adopted by the Executive Com- 
mittee ; also their introduction into and support before the 
State Legislature. 

One of the bills which enlisted the attention of this de- 
partment was the Act of Assembly passed at the recent session 
of the Legislature authorizing the creation of the Pennsyl- 
vania Home Defense Police. Undoubtedly, there will be 
exigencies to be met requiring special legislation should the 
war continue for any considerable period. When these situa- 
tions arise it is the department's function to devise methods 
of coping with them by legislative effort. 

DEPARTMENT OF ALLIED BODIES 

The announced function of the Department of Allied 
Bodies is to relate the activities of the Committee of Public 
Safety to those of all bodies working in similar fields, includ- 
ing corresponding committees acting under the appointment 
in other commonwealths. Co-operative contact with patriotic 
and defense organizations is also part of its working plan. 

8 



In completing its organization the department has appor- 
tioned its activities among twelve divisions, each in charge of 
a vice-director. The divisions effectively guide the co-opera- 
tion of these societies and organizations; patriotic, religious, 
scientific and other learned societies; fraternal, agricultural, 
women's organizations, labor unions, firemen, police and public 
officials; commercial and manufacturing, professional, clubs 
and universities and colleges. 

As a foundation for future work it was necessary to 
list the component units of all of the organizations in the State. 
This comprehensive listing, never before attempted, is now 
complete and affords a means of conducting unusual co-opera- 
tive effort. Steps will be taken soon to register the capacity 
of the organizations for service in various fields. Co-ordi- 
nated work without duplication is the constant aim. 

DEPARTMENT OF SANITATION, MEDICINE AND 
RED CROSS 

Co-operation with State and Federal authorities, Amer- 
ican Red Cross and correlated agencies in this field, supple- 
mented by original effort where necessary is the plan of ac- 
tivity formulated for this department. 

The department's first effort was the compilation and in- 
dexing of data relating to every organization, institution and 
profession coming within its alignment whose capacities, oper- 
ations or personnel could in any way be applied to the service 
of the State and nation in war time. In particular it has 
created a roster of dentists, veterinarians and pharmacists 
with special information of the character and amount of ser- 
vice that each one will give in emergencies. 

For instance, if the Government were to request a list of 
dentists willing to serve who can speak French, German, Hun- 
garian, Russian and almost any other language, the department 
could supply the information. It could also supply complete 
information about the equipment they possess and the amount 
of it which would be placed at the disposal of the Govern- 
ment. This equipment includes hundreds of complete outfits, 
thousands of hand instruments, engines, cabinets and other 
necessary appliances. Hundreds of these dentists, many of 
them being specialists, have put themselves on record as being 
willing to serve in the army when necessary. 

A similar roster of pharmacists has also been compiled. 
It includes many pharmacists who have large manufacturing 
facilities for producing drugs, chemicals, pills, powders, etc., 
and these facilities they are willing to apply to the country's 
need. Some even offer entire buildings for Government use. 

9 



The pharmacists include men who can speak ahnost every 
known European language. 

Complete information has been secured relating to hos- 
pitals, homes and other institutions so that the location, owner- 
ship, character, equipment and other essential facts are avail- 
able for any purpose; also whether the institutions are at the 
disposal of the Government, 

Institutions and buildings which might be used in time 
of emergency as convalescent hospitals have been located. 
The department, upon request, is in a position to furnish 
reclamation, detention or hospital camp sites and, in fact, has 
furnished some sites. It is also possessed of exact knowledge 
of the approximate size, topography, present condition of 
land, transportation, light and power facilities in each case. 

It is prepared to handle problems of sanitary engineering, 
sanitation and to give data concerning sanitary conditions 
anywhere in the State, and has at its call specialists in nursing, 
sanitation and hygiene. 

Among other activities the department has evolved and 
is manufacturing what is pronounced the best type of bandage 
roller on the market, which it is supplying at bare cost to hos- 
pitals. Red Cross chapters and other humanitarian units for 
the purpose of insuring a large supply of medical bandages 
when there is a demand. 

Through its connection with a great number of organi- 
zations and institutions the department is able to put forth 
a wide variety of effort in its particular field without duplica- 
tion or overlapping of the work. 

The department is in close co-operation with the State 
Department of Health, the administration of which, under 
Dr. Samuel G. Dixon, is so widely and favorably known. 

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIC RELIEF 

Activities connected with the relief of dependent families 
and all measures necessary to be adopted in dealing with the 
social and moral problems incidental to a state of war fall 
within the scope of this department. The co-operation of 
social agencies and social workers is part of the general plan. 

County organization has been carried into most of the 
districts of the State and many county units are actively at 
work. An important step was taken by the department in 
the creation of a committee of experts, including men and 
women, to act in an advisory capacity in dealing with problems 
of care of dependents, education, recruiting and placement 
of volunteer workers, religious welfare and welfare of chil- 
dren and health and sanitation in cities and towns, 

10 



Members of this committee will visit the various counties 
and give expert advice regarding organizations and work of 
sub-committees. 

Already the department has rendered valuable assistance 
to humanitarian societies and associations through a special 
appeal it has made to the charitable public for a continuance 
of their contributions. This appeal, which has been sent to 
20,000 contributors, urges that unless the public continues its 
support many organizations absolutely essential to the relief 
plans of the State will be compelled to go out of existence. 

The enrolment of volunteers for civic relief work upon 
a regulation enlistment basis will soon be undertaken. Vol- 
unteers will be recruited from that part of the population in- 
eligible for military service. Workers not familiar with the 
duties will be given special training in social economy, various 
institutions equipped for such training having proffered their 
services for this purpose without cost. 

The department has taken action through the formation 
of district committees of education to forestall child labor 
exploitation and other abuses which might result from neglect 
of child welfare. These committees include public school 
officials and leaders in educational work. 

DEPARTMENT OF FOOD SUPPLY 

The task assigned to this department was that of awaken- 
ing the people to the seriousness of the food situation. Some 
of the results to be accomplished were the cultivation of un- 
used land, substitution of necessary crops for luxuries, elimi- 
nation of waste in food production, handling and consump- 
tion and in a measure to find the necessaiy additional man- 
power for the speeding up of agriculture. 

The department began its work by a campaign which 
enlisted the farmers of the State in a movement to make good 
the wheat shortage by greatly increased acreage of non-per- 
ishable crops, especially corn. The meat problem was handled 
by inducing farmers to make special efforts to increase their 
holdings of live stock, hogs in particular. Thousands of large 
posters outlining the method by which the farmer could re- 
lieve the critical situation were used in this work. Smaller 
posters giving hints for amateur gardeners were employed to 
stimulate home gardening. 

County units of the department were actively engaged 
in the campaign under daily instructions from headquarters. 
A feature was the enrolment of high school students to assist 
the farmers. Through the department's efforts various schools 
throughout the State released the students in advance of the 

11 



summer recess and the county workers placed them wherever 
their services could be used to advantage. 

The subject of food conservation has been and is being 
given special attention. One of the methods adopted to pro- 
mote conservation was the enlistment of hotel men's aid 
throughout the State. At the department's solicitation the 
Pennsylvania Hotel Men's Association accepted the plan of 
reduced menus, eliminating dishes prepared from lamb, veal 
and other immature meats. 

A larger use is being made of sea food to curtail the 
demand for meat. Corn and rye breads have been substituted 
for wheat edibles. "War portions" are being offered at a 
reduction and menu cards urge the public to accept modified 
service, and so to use care in ordering that waste from left- 
overs may be eliminated. Housewives also are being edu- 
cated to install the modified menu system in their homes. 
They are also being aided in the purchase of foodstuffs by 
daily bulletins which call attention to the edibles most plenti- 
ful in the market and to price savings that may be effected 
by their use. This plan promotes the use of perishable food- 
stuffs and adds to the store of non-perishables for future 
consumption. 

Community markets and automobile roadside markets 
have been established throughout the State for the wider 
distribution of produce, much of which would otherwise fail 
to reach the consumer. Under this plan community markets 
are held at stated intervals, directed by appointed market 
masters. The automobile roadside markets are arranged by 
the farmers themselves for the purpose of concentrating sell- 
ing effort and taking better advantage of the opportunities 
of directly reaching the traveling public. 

One of the greatest efforts made by the department has 
been in connection with the enlistment of all women in the 
Hoover Food Saving Army. Three million enrolment cards 
have been printed by the department and distributed through- 
out the State. The department's own working divisions, as- 
sisted by every organization and association that could be 
enlisted, are now pushing the enrolment, their aim being a 100 
per cent, registration of Pennsylvania women for food con- 
servation. 

Twenty thousand copies of an attractive three-color 
poster, the publication of specially prepared appeals in hun- 
dreds of newspapers and the use of 2200 colored slides in 
moving-picture houses are among the methods of publicity 
adopted to induce the women to sign-up. Red Cross units, 
civic associations, women's organizations and various other 

12 



agencies, including the official police throughout the State 
have given valuable assistance, and to date, according to Na- 
tional Food Director Hoover's published intei'view, Philadel- 
phia leads all other cities in this enrolment and Pennsylvania 
bids fair likewise to lead the States. 

In co-operation with the Fire Underwriters' Association, 
food storage plants, and especially grain elevators, have been 
carefully inspected throughout the State and better policing 
devised to guard against fire loss. 

Plans are now being formed to render assistance to farm- 
ers, through local safety committees, in the distribution and 
marketing of the fall potato crop of the State which promises 
to be very large in volume. Community storage houses are 
contemplated in the heavier producing counties, wherein farm- 
ers may store graded and sacked potatoes, as a means of equal- 
izing the distribution throughout the year, thus affording pro- 
tection to the farmer against abnormally low and to the con- 
sumer against unreasonably high prices. Such storage is also 
expected to facilitate the financing of the crop by enabling 
local banks to advance loans to farmers against potato ware- 
house receipts. 

The work of the Department, along the lines of increased 
food production and conservation, has been co-ordinated 
throughout with the activities of the various permanent State 
organizations, especially the Department of Agriculture and 
State College Farm Extension Bureau. Women skilled in 
home economics have been provided throughout the State to 
teach home canning, drying and preserving. Preparations are 
now well under way to supplement the earlier work under- 
taken in this direction by the operation of a demonstration 
train over the lines of the Pennsylvania Railway system. This 
train, loaned by the railway company, will be fitted up with 
various exhibits of foods, household utensils, etc., under the 
joint auspices of the Federal and State Food Administrations, 
State College and the railroad. It will be operated under the 
management of the State Food Department in educational 
work on food conservation and economy, over a considerable 
period, during which many towns and cities will be visited, 
and it is expected that great interest will be aroused and much 
good accomplished. 

Plans have already been formulated or are in process of 
formation to secure a material increase in the acreage to be 
sown to rye and winter wheat for the crops of 1918. Also for 
securing better yields of these important cereals and other 
crops through seed selection, the distribution of fertilizer at 
moderate cost, and its more intelligent use, as well as by edu- 

13 



cational work in better farming methods. Measures are also 
being undertaken to augment the meat supply for next year, 
by stimulating increased production in the quick maturing 
meat animals, like hogs and sheep, and by an endeavor to bring 
about a large increase in poultry flocks. 

In addition to all that has been done to meet present 
and future emergencies the department has welded its com- 
ponent tmits into a State-wide organization prepared and 
equipped to give efficient working results at any time. 

DEPARTMENT OF MATERIALS 

As part of its work the Department of Materials will 
undertake to determine with exactness the available resources 
of the State in minerals and in materials which enter into 
industrial processes. 

A comprehensive outline of the department's working 
program is not presented at this time, nor is the department 
in a state of activity, because the Council of National De- 
fense, for reasons related to the conduct of its own activities, 
has requested delay in putting the plans into active operation. 

DEPARTMENT OF PLANTS 

A survey of the industrial capacity of the State's manu- 
facturing establishments and co-ordination of their productive 
efforts fall within the working scope of the Department of 
Plants. Under the designation of plants is included, of course, 
all establishments whose output may be applied in any way 
to the prosecution of the war. 

The situation with reference to the work of this de- 
partment duplicates the status of the Department of Ma- 
terials : Active operations have been deferred at the sugges- 
tion of the Council of National Defense. 

DEPARTMENT OF MOTORS AND MOTOR TRUCKS 

The Department of Motors and Motor Trucks has un- 
dertaken an exhaustive inventory of the motor resources of 
the Commonwealth. Its plans call for a comprehensive motor 
transportation service to be available in any and all emer- 
gencies. 

The county divisions of the department are now work- 
ing out the details of a program which is to provide for each 
county a motor service to transport policemen, soldiers, am- 
munition and material in case of riot or disturbance. The 
service is also to be organized so that it could supplement 
railroad facilities should the rail service for any reason be- 
come inefficient. A motor service plan for the quick move- 

14 



ment of crops during the harvesting season is also being 
formulated. 

The inventory of motor vehicles is including a registry 
of at least 25 per cent, of the pleasure cars. AH available 
drivers are also being registered. Ten per cent, of the cars 
inventoried are being enrolled in a reserve division for active 
emergency service day or night. Enrolment is much in the 
form of an enlistment as applied to owners and drivers, a 
pledge being obtained that they will give immediate response 
to any and all emergency calls. 

Each county is perfecting its motor service to suit its 
own individual requirements. Many of the counties have 
their plans in working shape. 

That the department has an organization capable of cop- 
ing with big emergency work was illustrated recently when 
it moved the Second Field Artillery — a Philadelphia big gun 
regiment — from its armory into camp. At short notice, through 
its Philadelphia division, the department mobilized sixty motor 
trucks and transported 1300 men, several batteries of heavy 
howitzers and a vast amount of stores and equipment from 
the armory near the center of the city to a camp site ten miles 
distant. The work was accomplished in a few hours, despite 
very unfavorable weather conditions, and without a single 
mishap, breakdown or delay. It was highly appreciated and 
commended by Col. H. D. Turner, commanding the regiment. 

Considerable motor service has also been furnished for 
Red Cross purposes. Trucks were, on some occasions, fur- 
nished by the department for recruiting work. 

Service of the county divisions has also been commenced. 
The plan of having the units so organized that they may best 
handle the requirements of their own districts independently 
has given most satisfactory results. Each section of the de- 
partment has shown its ability to cope with the emergency 
situations that so far have arisen. 

A notable illustration was the work of the Chester divi- 
sion during the recent race disturbance in that city. In re- 
sponse to a call for aid from the mayor, the division put into 
service twenty- four motor vehicles which were used to trans- 
port guards, police and State police. 

The service was so effective in assisting the authorities 
to keep the outbreaks in check that its continuance was re- 
quested and granted until the trouble had been suppressed, 
Motor cars and trucks remained at this work all night during 
the most violent periods of the disorder. 

The value of the service rendered was acknowledged by 
Mayor McDowell. 

15 



DEPARTMENT OF CIVILIAN SERVICE 
AND LABOR 

Upon the organization of the committee a plan of activity 
was outHned for the Department of CiviHan Service and 
Labor, giving it supervision over all the non-military activities, 
both of men and women ; also study and control of problems 
of labor supply and mobilization. 

Immediately upon the appointment of a director, vice- 
director and superintendents the department amplified the 
outline of its working program. It has undertaken to render 
civilian service for industry in the broadest acceptance of the 
term. 

To cope with the various problems and intricacies of 
the work six superintendencies were created, controlling four 
separate bureaus and two divisions, all in charge of experts. 

The work outlined provides for the educating and in- 
structing of labor recruits as well as organizing and making 
more mobile and effective the existing labor forces. 

Immediate effort is being concentrated on four vital 
features. These are the determination of the needs for in- 
dustrial labor; determination of the needs for agricultural 
labor; establishment of employment offices and the appoint- 
ment of district superintendents of the Federal Boys' Work- 
ing Reserve. 

Bureaus created are Labor Relations, Organization, In- 
struction and Employment. Duties defined for the Labor 
Relations Bureau are the handling of problems arising in 
connection with alien labor and questions of conciliation and 
mediation between employer and employe. 

The Bureau of Organization is handling the work of 
establishing working reserves and the incidental compilation 
of records, information and also matters of official relation- 
ships and new activities. 

To the Bureau of Instruction is assigned the details of 
organization of instruction and training designed to increase 
labor efficiency, particularly as applied to aliens. It also at- 
tends to supervision of minors enrolled in the working re- 
serves, both before and after employment. 

Making provision for the recreational activities where 
they may be found desirable, provision for the development 
of physical training necessary to prepare prospective labor for 
harvesting and other forms of arduous employment also are 
within its scope, as are the organization and supervision of 
farm camps. 

The Bureau of Employment has set about the organiza- 
tion and supervision of local employment offices, whose duty 

16 



is to collect information concerning the need for labor and 
the amount of labor available, with the purpose of distributing 
such labor most effectively. 

An industrial superintendent for men and boys and 
another for women and girls with special duties of creating 
reserve forces complete the headquarters organization. 

Already the department has the co-operation of the offi- 
cially established agencies of the State government in so far 
as their activities can be applied to the work. 

The sources of labor supply with which the department 
is dealing are regular labor, composed of workers regularly 
engaged in industrial pursuits, and a working reserve, com- 
posed of persons not daily employed in productive pursuits 
whose time is not wholly occupied, but who are willing for 
the good of the country to engage temporarily in productive 
labor. 

In order that the department may be at all times in close 
touch with the needs of important industrial establishments, 
each of these establishments is being requested to appoint an 
industrial correspondent from its own organization. This 
correspondent is directed to advise headquarters of the de- 
partment of all needs and problems. Local units of the de- 
partment are instructed to see that industrial concerns follow 
these suggestions. Needs for industrial labor are reported 
to local employment offices being established by the depart- 
ment. 

In the matter of agricultural labor contact has been es- 
tablished with, and co-operation assured by, the regularly 
appointed County agricultural agents now serving under State 
and Federal supervision. These agents accept requests for 
farm labor for transmission to the department's local em- 
ployment offices. 

The employment offices themselves are being organized 
under supervision of the employment bureau of the State 
Department of Labor and Industry, working jointly with the 
Civilian Service Bureau of Employment. The workings of 
this system have been so carefully planned as to make pro- 
vision for exchanges of labor between Pennsylvania and other 
States should emergency arise and a higher degree of effi- 
ciency be made possible thereby. 

The aim of the local employment offices is to bring reg- 
ular labor and members of the working reserves into contact 
with prospective employers. 

The work of the department is not intended to act be- 
yond the point where the individual presents himself to the 
employer and accepts employment, except in cases such as 

17 



employment of girls and boys, where conditions require care- 
ful investigation and control. While the department may 
mediate or act as arbitrator in case of disagreement, it will 
have nothing to do with the relief of individuals on strike or 
unemployed. It aims so far as possible to anticipate labor 
misunderstandings and take measures looking toward their 
prevention or settlement. Summarized, its work is the regis- 
tering, instructing and placing of labor where it can be most 
effectively employed. 

The county units of the department are not held down 
in their activities to an exact duplication of the headquarters 
form of organization, as they are not called upon for creative 
or initiative duties. Their work is of a supervising nature. 

The organization of the Pennsylvania division of the Fed- 
eral Boys' Working Reserve is now proceeding under direc- 
tion of the Industrial Superintendent for Men and Boys. A 
similar organization of girls has been recommended by the 
department. Other reserves, such as branches of the National 
League for Woman's Service and Public Service Reserve for 
Men, are under consideration. 

Women and girls will find many opportunities for active 
service during the present emergency. Their lines of effort 
are being fitted into the general scheme by the Industrial 
Superintendent for Women and Girls, who is a woman and 
who is also a chairman of the Pennsylvania division, National 
League for Woman's Service. 

DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY SERVICE 

The primary duty outlined for this department in the 
general committee plan is co-operation with the Federal Gov- 
ernment in the creation of the national army. Registration 
of eligibles for the Selective Draft called for the active as- 
sistance of the Department of Military Service soon after 
the committee came into existence. Recruiting efforts to bring 
the regular army and the National Guard up to full strength 
provided another opportunity for service. 

The department's work is conceded to have contributed 
in a very large measure to the remarkable registration and 
recruiting standards set by Pennsylvania. 

Registration work was conducted along these lines: Di- 
rectors of registration were named in the various county units 
and were placed in charge of the preliminary campaigning to 
insure registration of all eligibles. Daily instructions issued 
by the department were carried out effectively by the county 
units. Twenty-five thousand copies of a three-color poster, 
250,000 hand bills, thousands of warning bulletins and other 

18 



means of publicity were employed to keep the day and duty 
of registration before the public. 

It was at the request of this department that the Post- 
master General permitted free delivery of registration liter- 
ature by rural mail carriers, a concession which was of im- 
mense benefit to registration work through the United States. 

Advance lists were prepared of known eligibles and other 
precautionary measures were taken to prevent registration 
delinquency. In a great many counties the registration workers 
either directly provided motor transportation or induced firms 
and organizations to provide motor transportation for the 
speeding up of the enrollment. 

Recruiting of the guard and regular army was aided by 
a carefully planned campaign. Every form of publicity was 
employed, including the issuance of 20,000 three-color posters 
for the guard, and color and other types of posters for the 
regular army. Special posters were issued for the Military 
Police and the Ammunition Supply Train. Two hundred thou- 
sand leaflets adapted to the particular use of various regimental 
vmits were also printed. 

The newspapers loyally supported the campaign by the 
publication of news stories daily, and a special two-column 
Guard recruiting story, prepared for the department, appeared 
in a great majority of the 600 papers of the State. Philadel- 
phia regiments in need of special assistance were aided by 
the posting throughout the city of 24-sheet posters and by 
the placing of huge signs on the armories. Motor service 
was also supplied for their recruiting detachments. The as- 
sistance rendered the Guard was highly praised by com- 
manders of regiments in letters to the director of the de- 
partment. 

Through its activities along these lines the department 
and its various county units have established an effective or- 
ganization which will be capable of continued usefulness when 
necessity arises. 

DEPARTMENT OF NAVAL SERVICE 

Recruiting for the Navy, the Naval Militia and the Naval 
Coast Defense Reserve and the creation of auxiliary defense 
fleets are the principal lines along which the activities of this 
department were and are being concentrated. 

A naval recruiting campaign was undertaken soon after 
the organization of the department, which resulted in fully 
5000 men being enrolled by June 15th last. This by no means 
represents the extent to which the recruiting efforts could 
have been carried, as owing to lack of naval housing facilities 

19 



in this district the department was practically forced tempo- 
rarily to suspend its recruiting work. Indications were that 
25,000 men would have been enrolled by a continuance of the 
campaign. 

At one time there were 70 enrollment stations open for 
the distribution of recruiting literature and information. Re- 
cruiting trips were made up and down the Delaware River, 
securing a large number of men. Ten thousand window 
cards, 60,000 booklets and many thousand leafllets were used 
in the publicity effort. 

After several thousand men had been enrolled in the 
reserve the need of a camp for housing and training the re- 
cruits became apparent and the department secured a desir- 
able site near Cape May at a nominal rental of $1 for the 
duration of the war, which is now being equipped to accom- 
modate 2000 men. The work of arranging for all the neces- 
sary camp facilities was handled by the department. Through 
its efforts an expensive railroad siding is being constructed 
by the Reading without cost to the Government, 

Some of the other achievements were the listing of boats 
in the district available for coast defense work, some of which 
were subsequently taken over by the navy as mine sweepers. 

The co-operation of tug-boat owners and the profifer of 
a number of these boats for naval service was also obtained. 
Assistance was given to naval training classes of the Uni- 
versity of Pennsylvania in drill work. 

Largely as a result of the department's activities the city 
made a generous appropriation to improve sanitary conditions 
in and around League Island Navy Yard by the abatement of 
the fly and mosquito nuisance. Also as a result of its work 
additional barracks at the Navy Yard to house 5000 men is 
being provided. 

The organization is in contact with similar departments 
in other states and is prepared for a continuance of activities 
as occasion demands, 

DEPARTMENT OF GUARDS, POLICE AND 
INSPECTION 

Providing for an auxiliary police service to supplement 
existing forces is one of the principal aims of this depart- 
ment. The Governor's signature on July 18th to an act of 
Assembly, giving the necessary authority for the creation of 
such a force in the various counties, has permitted of plans 
being put into active operation, 

Philadelphia, as a city of the first class possessing the 
authority to create an auxiliary force at any time there is 

20 



such necessity, already has an organization of the Home De- 
fense Police. In the smaller cities the forces also will be 
organized subject to the control of local authorities and in- 
dependent of the county organization. 

Members in all cases will be sworn in as special officers, 
and as such will have all the powers of policemen in the first- 
class cities. Already Cumberland County is completing its 
home police system, which will serve as a model for the ex- 
tension of the sei'vice to all counties. Instructions are now 
in the hands of all local divisions outlining the methods of 
organization. 

The plan adopted for counties provides for a headquarters 
and platoon system for each county, the platoons to be strateg- 
ically located for rapid concentration of their several units. 
Enrolment will include owners of motor vehicles so that 
emergency transportation may be available. 

Primarily the duties of the force will be to assist local 
authorities in the preservation of order in the vicinity of 
their homes and to protect life and property from destruction 
in case of internal disorder. Mature men of military, naval 
or police experience are being chosen as officers. The equip- 
ment includes a special badge, an arm band, a whistle and a 
police "billie." 

Members will have authority at all times to make ar- 
rests should occasion arise and thus the State will be provided 
with an auxiliary police reserve supervising public security all 
the time and anywhere. Competent drill masters will give 
military instruction and will drill the units in riot, fire and 
other police duties. 

The city plan provides for a two or a three-platoon or- 
ganization, according to population. The platoons will be di- 
vided into companies, with one company for each police dis- 
trict, under command of the district police official. A motor 
transportation corps on a platoon basis and to include a "flying 
squadron" for emergency calls, is part of the plan. 

As men between the ages of 21 and 60 years, ineligible for 
military service by reason of age or dependents, may enroll 
in the Home Defense Police, the organization of a force run- 
ning into thousands is practically assured. Records of this 
enrolment, and of all general and minor officers, will be cen- 
tered in this department's headquarters. The force, or any 
of its divisions, are subject to instant call from this central 
authority vested in the director of the department. Major 
John C. Groome, Superintendent of the State Police. 



21 



DEPARTMENT OF RAILROADS 

In the creation of the Department of Railroads it was recog- 
nized that the railroad problem during wartime is primarily of 
national concern, and that State activity should be merged 
with Federal effort. Naturally, the Department has formu- 
lated plans and has proceeded with its work as an integral 
unit of the greater national system of railroads whose activities, 
in co-operation with the Council of National Defense, have 
been under general observation, and are recognized as having 
been effective and practical from the moment of entry of the 
United States into the war. 

It may not be inappropriate to state that the Director of 
the Department is one of the five railroad presidents into whose 
control has been submitted the management, for war purposes, 
of the entire railroad mileage of the country. Under sanction 
of this committee of railroad chiefs reports have, from time 
to time, been issued which cover the workings of the system, 
so far as they may be made the subject of publicity. 

DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRIC RAILWAYS AND 

MOTORS 

The importance of electric railways as war auxiliaries of 
the steam roads is obvious, hence the organization of a separate 
Department to co-ordinate the operations of the State-wide 
electric systems, and to arrange for service contact between 
the steam and electric roads in case of necessity. 

The possibilities of electric motor transportation are of 
wide range, particularly the capacity of the electric roads to 
take care of traffic essential only to the business of the State, 
leaving the railroads free to assume a greater share of Gov- 
ernment transportation. 

Up to the present the transportation problem has not been 
sufficiently acute to call for any unusual activity on the part 
of the electric systems. But the existence of a Department 
especially created to cope with emergencies of this origin in- 
sures the efficient handling of traffic problems which may be 
solved through electric railway co-operation. 

DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAYS AND WATERWAYS 

The Department of Highways and Waterways was created 
to inquire into the availability of rivers, canals and highways of 
Pennsylvania as transportation resources ; to give considera- 
tion to their utilization and to the solution of problems arising 
therefrom ; and, in particular, to give careful study to the con- 
dition of the roads throughout the State. 

22 



In this latter connection the Department has found oppor- 
tunities for rendering service of immediate benefit to several 
districts as well as being of general benefit in the State-wide 
plan of improved transportation facilities. 

Partly as the result of this Department's efiforts the State 
Highway Commissioner undertook to repair the road from 
Johnstown to the Lincoln Highway, a distance of eighteen 
miles. Similarly the development of highv/ays between Johns- 
town and Mundy's Corners, known as Route No. 52, was com- 
menced. Other activities of the Department include considera- 
tion of legislation for general road improvement, especially 
improvement of the highways radiating out of Philadelphia. 
Improvement of the Lincoln Highway between Chambersburg 
and Gettysburg also has been given attention. 

The Department aims to co-operate with the official State 
service in promoting roadway improvements. It has an or- 
ganization that establishes direct contact with the require- 
ments of the various sections of the State, and it is prepared 
to act in advisory or supervisory capacities where improve- 
ments are planned or undertaken. 

The facilities for transportation afforded by the State 
waterways are extensive and varied and their co-ordination 
with rail facilities is a subject which requires much detailed 
study. It is part of the Department's program to deal with the 
working out of this and similar problems. 

A survey of the waterways has been suggested for the 
purpose of furnishing a comprehensive report upon physical 
features, capacity of movement, possible methods of providing 
connections to link-up a useful network of water routes and 
other essential data; but the Department feels that duplica- 
tion of effort will be prevented by entrusting such survey work 
to the Committee on Inland Water Transportation appointed 
by the Council of National Defense. That Committee, com- 
posed of engineers and leaders in finance and commerce, is 
adequately equipped and directed to proceed with surveys of 
this character. 

It will, however, be the Department's aim to co-operate 
in all possible ways with that and similar committees or or- 
ganizations. 



23 



Finance 



Publicity to 3 



Railroads 
Electric Railways and Motors }> '^ 
Highways and Waterways 



> 
5-5 



3 ^• 



Legislation w 3 ^ 

3 



n <s> 


m 


ti 


>«1 


o_ 


R 




o 




G 




H 






M 


< 




n 


3? 


n 
o 




§ 



Allied Bodies *• 

Sanitation, Medicine and Red Cross oi 

Civic Relief oi 

Food Supply M 

Materials oo 

Plants CO 

Motors and Motor Trucks o 

Civilian Service and Labor X^ 



Military Service tt (^ -• 

n 2. 

Naval Service oo ff ^ 



Guards, Police and Inspection 



v> o 

3 3 



U) < 



H 
H 

m 
o 

o 
c 

fC 
H 
M 
M 

Z 



n 
o 

O i^ 

S 2 



o 



r 
> 



H 



> 

^ o 
as 11 

C 



r 

t-H 

o 



24 



LIBRARY OF 



CONGRESS 



020 933 468 



9 



